Depression on BCP's

[sugarbug]

I've taken bcp's for years and years, and have never had a problem beyond acne. I don't know what's happened to me! I cry at everything, even comericals! I have mood swings that edge on insanity. I feel totally overwhelmed, and am completely miserable. As of today I'm now on strike from what I consider the problem to be- I think it's all related to my bcp's. I don't even reconize myself! Has anyone else had this problem?

Bug

[RunnerDuck]

Hrmmmmm any chance you're pregnant? That's how I felt when I got pregnant... and I was on BCPs at the time so I blamed BCPs... went to a doc, started taking anti-depressants...

I *do* normally have some degree of mood disturbance on BCPs, though. It varies brand to brand with the type of progestin used. I can't say off hand which are better or which are worse... I don't think Yasmin had any effect on my mood (except when I was pregnant and on it LOL) but I do know OrthoCept made me practically suicidal...

Are you on a different BCP than before? If so, I would suggest trying a different pill... if not, I think our body chemistry changes after having kids and the same BCPs can have different side effects... So I guess either way, try a different pill!

[sugarbug]

Definitely not pregnant.

Although scary, your probably right- I should try another bcp....

*sigh*

[RunnerDuck]

Although no two women for sure respond to the same BCP the same way, this link on the stickies gives some good guidelines on picking a BCP if you are encountering certain symptoms or side effects...

http://www.wdxcyber.com/ncontr13.htm

In my case I found the desogestrel type of progestin to be murder on my moods... I took orthocept, desogen, and mircette and they ALL made me unbearably depressed. They ALL contain desogestrel. I wish I had know that it was not just a matter of trying a different BRAND of pill, it was making sure that brand was not the same thing as another pill that didn't work.

A long, long time ago, I took ortho-cyclen... I am pretty sure that one caused no problems for me, either. Alesse was good for me mood wise, but the low dose pills make me have spotting...

Ortho-novum and Ovcon (norethindrone) also caused moodiness in me, but not as bad as OrthoCept. - and Ovcon is listed as a good one for depression, so see you can't always believe the guidelines.

[*tinks*]

i suffered really badly with depression on dianette, had never had any problems with depression before i went on the pill. i'd say try a different one or at least go to your doctor and see what he/she suggests.
good luck and hope u find something that works for u soon!
claire xxx

[KatCarney]

I was BEYOND miserable, moody, and depressed on BCP's. When I finally INSISTED on coming off of them, my symptoms disappeared within days.

[Sarendipitous]

I was BEYOND miserable, moody, and depressed on BCP's. When I finally INSISTED on coming off of them, my symptoms disappeared within days.

Ditto. And I tried several different kinds - they all made me nutty.

[sugarbug]

I went off of them (the 18th) and feel much much better. I think that with all my hormonal problems, adding more hormones to the mix wasn't a good idea... for me.

Thanks for the replies- it's nice to know I wasn't crazy, and that others have felt the same!
Bug

[*tinks*]

so glad to hear ur feeling better off them! adding more hormones definately didnt help me either! hope things keep getting better for u
claire xxx

[xnatzxk]

hi there.

is unde active thyroid connected to low progesterone, if so would they both need treated seperately?

i have recently had a m/c and i think this is due to either low progesterone or under active thyroid, i had borderline thyroid last time checked, i am on the pill till march when im going to come off it again to ttc again, in march should i then ask the doc to check my thryoid again and also check my progesterone levels?

How can they check the progesterone levels in people with irreg periods?
And finally can under active thyroid effect in anyway low progesterone leading to m/c?

[purplerose]

yes! I was sooo depressed on Ortho Tri Cyclen. After I switched to Mircette, I felt better almost instantly. Then I was put on another med that interacted with the pill and made me depressed again. Again I started feeling better after coming off the other med. Depression has been my big problem with bcp's. For me I think it had something to do with high estrogen. I was on regular O3C, not lo, and Mircette is a low dose pill. The med that I was taking has been known to increase the amount of estrogen in your bloodstream if you're on the pill, and I think that for me it just happened to be too much estrogen.

Overall I think bcp's are really a trial and error thing. Every woman reacts differently to every pill.